Paco Peña

FLAMENCO SIN FRONTERAS

The theme of this production consists of two interrelated ideas, both of which have fascinated Paco for quite some time: one is re-visiting a chapter of the flamenco repertoire – and history – which is not so often looked at or fully appreciated: a group of flamenco forms that were born at the turn of the 20th century as a result of Spanish music ians, singers and dancers arriving in South America to conduct tours of their shows and finding on arrival a rich folklore that reminded them very strongly of their own music al traditions.

The connections are, of course, natural, given the history of the Discovery and subsequent traffic between Spain and the new colonies. But to these artists that encounter amounted to a new and exciting discovery that inspired them, and prompted the creation of a few additions to the flamenco repertoire in the form of new songs and dances incorporating, inevitably, the flavour of the music they had just experienced. The new group of styles was called “Cantes de Ida y Vuelta” (songs of departure and return).

It is time to bring these forms back to the stage and to show their, somewhat romantic appeal but also the way in which some of them have developed and become full-blooded flamenco forms of great vitality and potential. In addition, the production has a wider and more ambitious aim: it sets out to combine the best of flamenco and its environment, with Latin America, especially Venezuela , and the great variety of music that exists there. The interest is in trying to get away from usual renderings of Latin American music which in many instances amount to light-hearted, colourful shows, with beauty and exuberance but which often end up projecting stereotypes of a limited nature that don’t come near suggesting how rich and varied the music al world of that area can be.

In this show we shall aim to explore deeper and more complex elements of the music al traditions in that part of the world, looking at the same time to the strong historical connections between Latin America and Andalucía and Spain , as mentioned above. We also look at African influences in the surprising, exotic sounds of Afro-Venezuelan folklore, with a fleeting look at Afro-Peru as well.

The essential element of the show will of course be the art of flamenco, as befits the work of Paco Peña and his Company, but we want to display other forms of songs and dances, drawn from Latin American countries and traditions, and will seek to point out possible points and realities in common between the different music al cultures.

A COMPAS! - Primal Pulse

From the early days in which Paco Peña decided to launch his now world famous company, he set out to bring onto the stage a true rendition of what the Art of Flamenco represents: a spontaneous collaboration between artists of different disciplines, i.e. musicians, dancers and singers who inspire one-another to reach as far as possible into their artistic endeavors so as to create a unique and unrepeatable experience every time; a performance that is new and surprising to themselves as much as it is to any audience present.

Flamenco is not written down, but passed on from generation to generation, so it continues to allow for new ideas to come into it. It holds an intense appeal that is timeless and not easy to identify. Both the tragic cry of the “seguiriya” in the lone voice of the flamenco singer and the explosion of happiness of the “bulería” rhythm find mysterious paths into people’s sensitivities all over the world; as do the sensuality and passion of the dance and the unique texture of the flamenco guitar sound.

Over the years, Paco Peña’s shows have dealt with various challenging concepts, from the deceivingly simple notion of highlighting the essential significance of the flamenco song, (not given due recognition for many previous years), as was the case with his Flamenco Puro show, to the ground-braking drama Musa Gitana which told the story of the legendary, turn-of-the 20th. Century artist from Córdoba, Julio Romero de Torres, with his complex observation of life and society and his personal, traumatic passions.

More recently, Paco Peña enjoyed the collaboration of the renowned theatre director Jude Kelly in what proved to be the spectacular show Voces y Ecos, which took the audience on a kind of journey through the history of flamenco and the most significant moments in its development.

The new presentation, A Compás ! wants to transmit to the audience the compelling nature of a range of flamenco rhythms, from the almost “tribal”, trance-inducing quality of the “alboreá’” to the razor - sharp complexity of the “bulería”. At the same time, the show aims to isolate each artist at some moment, to throw (as it were) him or her onto the naked reality of a given rhythmic structure (or compás) and, there, having to deal with it in their own personal way, immersing themselves deeply into the feeling of the rhythm and contributing their own creative input, they must end up projecting an unstoppable pulse that every one can feel and identify with. Or, put in different words, they must try and get everybody “into the rhythm”, induce the feeling of “a compás” into the whole experience.

Flamenco rhythms are vital; the “compás” is like a primal pulse, like the rhythm of the earth... and everyone must get to feel it!

FLAMENCO REQUIEM - In praise of the earth

Paco Peña’s latest work, FLAMENCO REQUIEM, came about following his participation in various music festivals, over many years, performing his internationally acclaimed MISA FLAMENCA. Collaborating with various classical choirs in performing this work, he has often been urged by them and the festivals to compose again for flamenco guitar, voice and chorus.

He decided to write a Requiem, true to the orthodox tradition of such works, but giving it a different treatment at the same time; thus, composing a REQUIEM FOR THE EARTH, building its context with this in mind.

The Flamenco Requiem, therefore, contains several aspects which are new and unique: it combines the most pure flamenco with the beautiful instrument that is the classical voice, which will of course, be delivered in the flamenco form. At the same time it combines the original meaning of a requiem, with the disappearance of vital elements of the earth that are so necessary for the existence of human beings, and consequently, Judgement Day (also a central part of the requiem mass) will come to humanity for its unmeasured exploitation of the planet. This Requiem will also sing its praise to the Earth.

Of course all of this, gives this work a social commentary very relevant to the times we live in. However, Paco Peña wanted to add to this work an element of hope - that, not all is lost; with this idea he also uses a children's choir, which, although singing the serious message of the text, will contribute, with their innocence a little light of optimism towards the end of the piece.

Flamenco - VOCES y ECOS…

Paco Peña’s new show, FLAMENCO – Voces y Ecos, follows the phenomenal success of Musa Gitana. Its theme is the evolution of flamenco over the centuries. Here, he tells us some more about his inspiration for the show.

This new Paco Peña production looks at present day flamenco as well as the state of the art in years past, and reflects on the enormous power and draw that it has at all times.

Voces y Ecos is a musical journey that aims to display the high level of development of modern flamenco, to highlight the razor sharp rhythmic complexity of its latest variations in dance, song and guitar. But, first, it aims to glance back to the most primitive, pure forms of this captivating art and pay due respect to the legacy that tradition has left us; to observe the enormous inspiration that past eras of flamenco have given to today's artists; to show that the high levels of virtuosity achieved by today's dancers and guitarists is not unrelated to the cry "in extremis" of the lone singer of the past. In short, to show that the original vehement emotions that prompted singers, dancers and guitarists of days gone by, continue to nourish the art today and will remain the life-blood of flamenco - always....

Like the internationally acclaimed, groundbreaking productions ‘Musa Gitana’ and ‘Arte y Pasión’, the world premiere of ‘Voces y Ecos’ will take place at the Peacock Theatre in London, home of Sadler’s Wells in the West End.